New Zealand PM Announces Scholarships up to NZD 20,000 for Indian Students

Great News for Indian students aiming to study in New Zealand!

The Prime Minister of New Zealand, Christopher Luxon, recently announced the launch of the New Zealand Excellence Awards (NZEA) 2025, to support Indian students in pursuing higher education in New Zealand. The announcement was made at a special event held at IIT Delhi, where multiple Memorandums of Understanding (MOUs) were signed between New Zealand Universities and Indian Institutions, further strengthening academic ties between the two nations.

During his visit to India, Prime Minister Christopher Luxon emphasized the importance of fostering academic and cultural exchanges between the two nations. He remarked, “Prime Minister Modi and I spent a lot of time yesterday in our conversations just talking about the power of education, and we both believe that is the way forward for us to transform our respective societies and economies.”

As part of these initiatives, a scholarship package worth NZD 260,000 has been introduced under the New Zealand Excellence Awards (NZEA) 2025 to provide financial assistance to Indian students aspiring to study in New Zealand.

What is the New Zealand Excellence Awards 2025?

The New Zealand Excellence Awards 2025 is a prestigious scholarship program jointly launched by Education New Zealand Manapou ki te Ao and the country’s eight leading Universities. The initiative offers 29 New Zealand scholarships for Indian Students across Undergraduate and Postgraduate programs, with scholarship amounts ranging from NZD 5,000 to NZD 20,000.

Who can Apply for the New Zealand Excellence Awards?

To be eligible for the New Zealand Excellence Awards (NZEA) 2025 scholarships, applicants must meet the following criteria:

• Be at least 18 years old at the time of application.
• Hold Indian citizenship and not be a citizen or permanent resident of New Zealand or Australia.
• Be residing in India at the time of University Application.
• Meet Immigration New Zealand’s Student Visa Requirements.
• Have an unconditional offer of admission from a New Zealand University for an eligible course.
  

Eligible Universities for NZEA Scholarships

The NZEA 2025 scholarships are offered to students enrolling in the below-listed eight top-ranked Universities in New Zealand.

• Auckland University of Technology
• University of Auckland
• Lincoln University
• Massey University
• University of Waikato
• University of Otago
• Victoria University of Wellington
• University of Canterbury

Some Universities may have additional eligibility requirements, which can be checked on their official websites. The application process opened on March 18th, 2025, and the last date to apply is April 30th, 2025.

As NZEA scholarships to study in New Zealand add to the country's appeal for international students, it continues to be a preferred study destination for aspiring scholars. According to 2024 data from the Ministry of External Affairs, approximately 7,300 Indian students are currently studying in New Zealand, further underscoring its growing reputation as a global education hub.

If you’re looking to take a step forward to study in the Land of the Long White Cloud and need expert guidance, KC Overseas Education is here to assist! From University admission to scholarship guidance, our team provides end-to-end support for a seamless study abroad journey.